Santoni celebrates 100 years at ITMA

Santoni was founded in 1919 as the first Italian socks machine manufacturer and in 1988 it became part of the Lonati group, a world leader in the production of sock and pantyhose machines. Since then, the company has lent its name to the Seamless phenomenon, becoming a leader in the production of electronic machines for garments without seams.

The company will celebrate its 100 years of technological revolution at ITMA 2019, which takes place from 20-26 June in Barcelona, showcasing its latest seamless circular knitting machines, together with sock knitting machines, large diameter fabric knitting machines, and process finishing technology.

“Added to these are the brand new, patented X Machine and XT Machine with their ingenious intarsia technology, a new automatic finishing system for seamless boxers, and the innovative K Fabric Project that introduces a completely new type of knitted textile process,” the company reports. On the double storey 1400 sqm booth, manufacturers for underwear, sportswear, beachwear, external, medical wear, denimwear, smart-textiles, socks and footwear sectors can explore all the newly patented machines, innovative production processes and a dedicated product Trend Area.

Seamless range

In the Seamless range, the company presents a technological re-vamp of the renowned model SM8-TOP2V, with four models on display in diverse gauges, while the SM8-TR1S and the SM8-TOP4J have been completely updated and equipped with new structural elements and electronics.

In a special corner, an SM8-TOP2V seamless machine will be matched with Santoni’s new automatic finishing machine for boxers – creating a unique Boxer Process Station. This cut and sew machine applies a gusset into each boxer with a four-needle sewing head, completing the whole process automatically and offering the finished boxer ready for the final packing stage.

Also on show is the new TC Cut machine, a round-shape toe closer with an integrated slitting device to prepare stockings for manual assembly.

Mec-Mor technology

“The updated versatile Mec-Mor technology, with the type Cmp2/Open and type HP machines, are still the only machines on the market equipped with needle-shifting movement of the needle beds, (= racking) a bi-directional transfer on the same feed allowing variable widths of the knitted panel (= Variatex technology),” the manufacturer reports. “Mec-Mor is known throughout the world as the only alternative range of machines that look circular but perform like a V-bed machine.”

This technology, displayed on 20 gauge, enables the production of weft double-face knitted garments with high quality designs and record production times. It is also used to produce accessories, such as 3D backpacks, where various yarns can be knitted into ad-hoc positioned areas, in order to obtain a seamless structure that guarantees superior product performance.

The Mec-Mor can manufacture sportswear performance garments, knitted men’s jackets and various other eye-catching products, which will be presented in the Trend Area. These include the shoe uppers created on the Mec-Mor, bringing sharpness to high definition patterns, and the flexibility to place logos and different structures practically anywhere within the shoe upper.

X Machine

Santoni will also highlight the innovative and newly patented X Machine technology, which offers the possibility to knit countless Intarsia items for creating seamless, knitted uppers using a 3D intarsia technology that maps the foot for perfect fit and form, as well as offering unlimited patterns and colour combinations. This machine knits different sustainable fibre yarns into one-piece uppers, complete with eyelets, ready for immediate attachment to the sole.

Shoe manufacturers can benefit from the innovative single-cylinder XT Machine Intarsia electronic knitting machine with all the above intarsia features but also offering intarsia knit products with breathable mesh areas with cushioning and/or transfer-stitch points knitted in sculptured terry. “This is the first Intarsia machine in the world capable of producing transfer loops and sculptured terry on the same course,” the company explains.

New sock knitting models

The following two new models join Santoni’s range of sock knitting machines:

The new single cylinder machine with one feed Model HT 50 produces heavy socks in terry with four colours plus ground on the same course

The all new single cylinder machine with one feed and needles-in-the-dial model Star S produces high-quality socks in true rib, five-colour patterns, with knitted or laid-in elastic and sculptured terry

Three large diameter machines, Zenith HS, Pulsar Double Face, and Zenit 2.4 JE mesh RP will also be exhibited. Fine gauge is the strong point of these machines. This time, fine gauge is used to knit a double face fabric, which allows the use of two different yarns, for true plating, keeping the fabric light.

K Fabric Project

A dedicated area will showcase Santoni’s K Fabric – Project, which is described as a process answering the requirements of the modern fast fashion market that demands customised, rapid and short production cycles.

It takes advantage of the Group’s circular knitting machines transforming the circular knitted meshes into a linear fabric, with incredible cost and fabric quality advantages. “This is the new frontier of a techno-mechanical sector that offers an opportunity for new styles and technological renewal with huge economic and strategical advantages,” the manufacturer concludes.